I then prepared the F-782B-L&R and F-783B-L&R Cover Support Ribs. I drilled them to the bulkhead, then removed them and installed the nutplates. I drilled the snap bushing holes to full size. I then fabricated the F-704M Web Stiffeners and drilled them to the F-704A. I then riveted the Cover Support Ribs and Web Stiffeners to F-704A. I made the F-904J Center Section Spacers from the rigid aluminum tube provided. I squared up the ends by chucking them in a drill press and spinning them gently against a piece of sandpaper held flat on the drill press table. I made spacer blocks from thick plywood to hold the halves of the center bulkhead assemblies exactly 1.438” (1 7/16”) apart to match the thickness of the spar. I then drilled the blocks with oversize holes to allow the bolts to run through the spacers. I bolted the two center bulkhead assemblies together around the spacers for a trial fit. I did not rivet the F-704H side plates on now as they will be riveted to the center section after being riveted to the side skins to allow some potentially difficult rivets to be set easily. After I was sure that everything fit correctly, I removed the bolts and spacers so the bulkhead was once again two separate halves, fore and aft and stored all the bolts and spacers in a bag and taped the bag to the bulkhead.
Time: 2 hours
Leonard's RV-7A Build 